The Skinny on Subluxations
By Sara Butler
You’ve probably heard your chiropractor talk about subluxations before, but do you really know what they are? Don’t be embarrassed if you aren’t exactly sure, it’s a term used specifically in chiropractic circles. It also happens to be the basis for everything your chiropractor does. Here’s what you need to know about subluxations and how they impact your body – an impact your chiropractor tries to reverse to grant you optimal health.
What Are Subluxations?
Subluxations are essentially misalignments in the bones of your spine. When a vertebra is out of place it can put stress on the nerves that run through your spine, irritating them and causing problems in other areas of your body. Subluxations can be caused by any activity – just living life can create these subluxations. Your chiropractor works to correct them through manually adjusting your spine.
Symptoms of Subluxations
Subluxations can manifest in many different ways. Generally, you can experience symptoms such as:
- Headaches
- Back pain
- Neck pain
- Neck stiffness
- Shoulder pain
- Leg pain
- Arm pain
Everyone is different, and subluxations may present themselves in different ways for you. You have to think about subluxations as you would think about tooth decay. When it comes to your teeth you may have decay long before you begin to have symptoms. Subluxations are much the same way since they can be brought on by almost any activity, but won’t become noticeable until they have started to impact the way your body works and moves, causing pain or discomfort.
Problematic Subluxations
When it comes to subluxations, they are not all created equal. Some can be the result of a traumatic event such as an accident or fall. Even sports can cause subluxations from repetitive movements that become problematic. If you are injured in a traumatic event, such as a car accident, it’s very important to see your chiropractor as soon as possible for an evaluation. Subluxations won’t always be obvious to you at first since it takes time for symptoms to occur. See your chiropractor before having symptoms and you may be able to avoid the problematic subluxations that are a result of a trauma or accident.
Chiropractic care is proactive health care, and nipping your subluxations in the bud before they become larger issues is one of the best things you can do to take control of your own health and wellness. If you are concerned that symptoms you may be having are the result of a subluxation, discuss it with your chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic today!